Aprilia raises the bar with the Caponord 1200 ABS Travel Pack, with the introduction of “ADD – Aprilia Dynamic Damping”, the cutting-edge technology semi-active suspension system covered by four exclusive patents. Together with Ride-By-Wire multi-map accelerator, cruise control, adjustable traction control, as well as two-channel ABS, and standard equipment such as panniers and hand guards, the Aprilia Caponord 1200 ABS Travel Pack pushes the boundaries of performance, handling, safety, and rider enjoyment among the street enduro segment.

THE NEW STANDARD
After shocking the naked sport bike world with the incredible Tuono V4 R and after creating the best superbike of the new millennium, the super-fast RSV4, Aprilia aims at leaving an indelible sign in the street enduro segment as well, achieving the perfect balance between sport and comfort. Introducing the Caponord 1200 ABS Travel Pack, the perfect bike for any occasion. Easy to handle and agile in the city, thanks to its advanced and lightweight chassis, quick and fun in the on all types of twisty roads, thanks to its sophisticated electronic management and its generous twin cylinder engine. It’s equally comfortable for rider and passenger in touring due to the particular attention to ergonomic detail and its excellent protection against the wind, thanks to wind tunnel shape studies.

Caponord is not a new name for Aprilia: the first ETV 1000 Caponord, introduced in 2001, represented an advanced interpretation of the street enduro concept, boasting distinctive elements such as the dual beam chassis in aluminum and the 998 cc 98 HP twin cylinder engine, both clearly sports derivations. More than ten years have passed and in the meantime Aprilia motorcycle technology has taken leaps forward, with the ability to build exceptional chassis’ joined by top-notch skill in electronics. Thanks to the experience gained in top level racings, which has always been their maximum center of research and development, Aprilia continues to put race-proven advances to use in its factory models. Proof of this is in the exclusive equipment (Ride-By-Wire, ABS, Aprilia Traction Control, Aprilia Cruise Control, Aprilia Dynamic Damping) and the characteristics of power, especially the torque of the 1200 V2 engine, completely revamped to provide the maximum in terms of power output and riding pleasure. The needs and desires of bikers have also changed, attracted more than ever by the global bike – a bike capable of providing great satisfaction in any conditions of use. The Aprilia Caponord 1200 ABS Travel Pack aims to establish a meeting place between the new needs of motorcycle enthusiasts and Aprilia’s technological skills.

CAPONORD 1200 ABS TRAVEL PACK OUTFITTING

Ride-By-Wire system with three engine maps: Sport, Touring, Rain

Two-channel ABS that can be disabled

Aprilia Traction Control (ATC), that can be deactivated and with 3 user selectable level settings

ADD (Aprilia Dynamic Damping) system, a semi-active suspension system with the rear suspension being 100% active (the first motorbike with such a system)

THE MOTORCYCLE
The sport nature comes through clearly in stylistic traits, such as the distinctive Aprilia “gaze” which characterizes the Caponord 1200. Numerous wind tunnel sessions contributed in shaping the Caponord, ensuring the best aerodynamic penetration, with particular attention given to the indispensable protection of the rider and passenger against the wind. To guarantee maximum comfort while touring, the hand guards and side fairing profiles come into play, designed not to be invasive, but to offer added protection. The same concept characterizes the Caponord 1200 chassis, with the frame made of steel trellis and cast aluminum plates, the new Aprilia is a true modern sculpture which deserves to be on display. The structure guarantees the right amount of rigidity and the essential stability and precision characteristics expected from every Aprilia, allowing the Caponord 1200 to rise above where its rivals stop – in sport riding. The perfect balance between sport and touring is an alchemy that only those with in depth know-how like Aprilia can create.

Riding position was the focus of numerous specific ergonomic studies, giving the Caponord 1200 a position that allows for aggressive handling and performance, while reducing fatigue during long rides. The saddle, enhanced by its elegant red stitching to give it a racing flavor, has an exceptionally comfortable cushion and sits just 33.1 inches off the ground, allowing riders to be in full control of the vehicle at a standstill. A lowered saddle is also available as an accessory to further reduce the distance from the ground. Passenger accommodations were also given special attention with a portion of the saddle, large and flat, separated from the rider’s seat and shaped so it prevents sliding forward, guaranteeing optimum comfort in any riding situation, while the grab handles provide a firm yet comfortable grip. “Rotational” technology allowed a thin walled nylon tank to be realized with freedom of shape, favoring a reduction in weight. The lateral dimensions were reduced to a minimum and cater to the perfect leg position for the rider. The 6.34 gallon (24 liter) fuel capacity allows for long range travel.

The Caponord 1200 ABS Travel Pack design was conceived from the beginning considering the bike panniers as an integral part of the vehicle. This, together with the choice to adopt a layout of the exhaust system with a low silencer, allowed dimensions to be contained significantly. The 7.6 gallon (29 liter) capacity panniers stay particularly adherent to the tail fairing profile (total dimensions stop at just 35.7 in (908 mm) and avoid inconvenience for the passenger, facilitating mounting and riding comfort. With consideration of sport purists, Aprilia opted for a height adjustable silencer, in the event that the panniers are not fitted, giving the Caponord 1200 a more sporty and aggressive look. The set of panniers, color-coded to match the body, do not require additional brackets or attachments, thereby leaving the clean lines of the motorcycle intact when not installed.

CHASSIS
The layout of the frame is a mixed structure, made up of a trellis in high resistance steel tubes connected to a pair of die cast aluminum plates. This exclusive and well tested configuration allows a perfect balance of weights to be achieved, as well as optimum torsional and longitudinal rigidity values. The frame has been specifically designed; seeking to raise the bar for the segment in terms of handling, without neglecting high standards of stability at the high speeds the powerful twin cylinder engine is capable of reaching. The new rear sub-frame ensures extreme solidity for trips with a full load, while the lateral positioning of the shock absorber, which connects the frame to the aluminum swingarm, is useful for providing the right amount of space for the exhaust manifold, leaving the unit far from heat sources in a position which favors any adjustments that may be required.

The Caponord 1200 ABS Travel Pack maximizes riding comfort with the Aprilia Dynamic Damping (ADD) System, protected by four exclusive patents. The front USD fork blends this state of the art automatic electronic damping, with manual preload adjustability, secured by 43mm stanchions made precious by cast shell mounting brackets. The extremely lightweight aluminum wheels, both 17 inches, stem from the ones which equip the super sport RSV4 and they contribute to reducing gyroscopic moments of unsuspended weight to a minimum, all to the advantage of the Caponord 1200’s handling. The wheels are shod with tires designed specifically for this type of bike. Thanks in part to the generous cross section of the rear tire (180/55), the Caponord 1200 is able to accommodate even a rider’s most extreme leans, while ensuring maximum grip on slippery surfaces. The specialized sculpting of the tread provides the further possibility of safely tackling light off-road routes, in search of a more adventurous type of touring. The Brembo braking system equips a pair of floating 320 mm steel discs and monoblock callipers with 4 pistons and radial connection on the front. The rear mounts a single piston floating calliper that grips a 240 mm disc. An advanced two-channel ABS system, which can be disengaged, completes the standard equipment.

THE ENGINE
The Aprilia twin cylinder boasts extremely advanced construction technology and a careful study of internal fluid dynamics aimed at improving combustion, decreasing friction, and maximizing performance. The engine was the object of significant advances, both in software and hardware, delivering more progressive power output from low rpms, and enhancing riding pleasure with higher torque values, while simultaneously improving fuel economy.

The final drive ratios contribute to increasing top speed, thereby allowing the engine to turn at lower rpms while traveling on the highway, saving fuel and increasing comfort. Through the experience gained in racing, resulting in an amazing 51 world titles in just a few years, Aprilia engineers in Noale, Italy were able to create this ultra-compact twin; itself a work of art, even from an aesthetics point of view. Credit for this goes to the great efforts of the engineers in imagining an ultra-modern engine where the data transportation system is able to travel through a CAN line, decreasing the amount of electrical cables needed. The 690W current alternator is new, more powerful, and capable of powering the various electrical accessories in the rich options catalog without any problems.

ELECTRONICS: THE MOST IN SOPHISTICATION AND RELIABILITY
Aprilia was the first to believe in the Ride-By-Wire system, the electronic type accelerator introduced on the Shiver 750 as far back as 2007, the fruit of extremely sophisticated technology, once reserved only for competition bikes, which helps the rider to get the most out of the bike’s performance potential. On the Caponord 1200 the level of effectiveness and reliability of this system has reached a new peak. The Ride-By-Wire system dialogs perfectly with the engine ECU, managing the power in the best possible way at each point of the power output arc in order to have jerk-free manageability at low RPM, extreme responsiveness at medium RPM, and exemplary spurts at high RPM. An efficient engine also provides the indisputable advantage of optimizing fuel economy.

With its triple maps (Rain, Touring and Sport), which the rider can select even with the bike in motion, the Caponord 1200 ABS Travel Pack provides the possibility of having a bike with three distinct personalities, able to instantly adapt to any possible condition and preference. The rider needs only close the throttle and press a button to choose the desired setting.

SPORT: maximum performance with responsive and direct power output in order to satisfy an aggressive riding style.

TOURING: the maximum power expressed is the same as the Sport mapping, but output becomes more fluid and suitable for daily riding or touring.

RAIN: power is limited to 100 HP in order to guarantee maximum control and safety in conditions of poor grip.

ABS and ATC can both be disengaged and come standard on the Caponord 1200. The two channel Continental ABS system is finely calibrated and allows the rider to take full advantage of the chassis potential in sport riding without ever being invasive, even in the most intense braking operations, whilst still guaranteeing maximum safety on slippery surfaces. ATC (Aprilia Traction Control) is the exclusive traction control system derived from the Aprilia Performance Ride Control (APRC) system on the extraordinary RSV4, designed and fine-tuned by Aprilia to get maximum grip out of any type of surface, able to give the rider great riding confidence, simultaneously increasing safety. The 3 levels of control can be adjusted based on different riding styles and road conditions:

Level 1: for a pure sport riding experience, all fun and adrenaline.Level 2: suitable for the city and touring and in general to manage the engine’s great power on any route.Level 3: ideal for safety taking on difficult situations such as low grip surfaces, staying in complete control.

Aprilia Dynamic Damping (ADD) is the brand new dynamic semi-active suspension system developed by Aprilia, the reference point in motorcycling on a global level where technology, efficiency, and reliability are concerned. Thanks to software strategies, the system recognizes the riding phases tied directly to the rider’s actions (acceleration, throttle release, braking, and constant gas) and adjusts the basic fork and shock absorber settings, allowing specific hydraulic calibration curves to be defined within the adjustment range.The ADD system measures the energy transmitted by bumps on the road surface to the bike and adjusts the hydraulic fork calibration and shock absorber in real time to minimize accelerations on the frame and consequently increase comfort. To achieve optimal performance at any fork and shock absorber operating frequency, ADD uses a patented “comfort oriented” algorithm which combines the principles of the well-known skyhook and acceleration driven damping algorithms.

The high precision of the system is entrusted to a selection of sensors derived from the automotive world, which allow the fork and shock absorber extension speed to be measured with maximum accuracy. In this field Aprilia has patented a unique solution for measuring the fork extension speed through the use of a pressure sensor.

In the electromechanical calibration suspension systems already available on the market, the rider presses a button on the handlebar to activate an electric motor which changes the suspension set-up. In the Aprilia ADD dynamic semi-active suspension system, on the other hand, all the rider has to do is ride without any concerns of selecting one setting or another. The Caponord 1200 ABS Travel Pack includes a built in piggy back shock absorber, electrically adjustable in spring preload to 4 predefined positions, indicated by specific icons on the digital instrument panel: rider only, rider with passenger, only rider with panniers and rider and passenger with panniers. The system also has an automatic, self-adjusting, feature that detects the bike’s load by itself (weight of the fuel, rider, passenger, luggage, etc.) and automatically adjusts preload to the optimum value for the correct balancing of the bike.

Aprilia Cruise Control allows the desired speed to be set and maintained even uphill and downhill, without touching the throttle control. The system disengages automatically if the rider touches any of the brake/clutch Cruise Control commands and is very useful on long highway routes, helping save fuel, while creating a less tiring ride. It is the perfect companion to eat up miles stress-free astride the Caponord 1200.

The completely digital instrument panel that equips the Caponord 1200 is all new, with a full LCD display speedometer, rev counter, total and two-trip odometers, fuel level, and coolant temperature. There is also a selected mapping indicator (S, T, and R) as well as the shock absorber electric spring preload indicator. The engaged gear is also indicated, as well as the ATC level adjustment and heated handgrip operation (available as a separate option). The range of indicators on the side includes the fuel reserve warning light and ABS, ATC and ACC activation/deactivation lights.

Pricing, Warranty, and Availability
The 2015 Aprilia Caponord 1200 ABS Travel Pack will be available in the United States beginning late March 2014, and is available in two colors: Glam White and Formula Red. The MSRP is $15,499. All 2014 and newer Aprilia motorcycle models available in US and come with a 2-year, unlimited mile factory warranty.